The posters also carry photographs of separatist leaders from the Valley like Masarat Alam Bhat and Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The police took time to get the posters down as they didn’t want to stoke tensions during Eid celebrations, according to CNN-News18.

In Sopore, people shouted slogans in favour of ‘azaadi’ and Hizbul commander Zakir Musa. The Mehbooba Mufti-led J&K government has asked security personnel to ‘exercise maximum restraint’, as they do not want reports of clashes during Eid, the source added.

Recently, the Jammu and Kashmir Police asked its personnel to avoid Eid prayers in public places in the wake of the lynching of DSP Mohammad Ayub Pandith outside the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar during Shab-e-Qadar prayers.

Police personnel have been advised to offer prayers in mosques in district police lines or in other protected mosques. The police have been told to exercise caution and not rush in if protests do break out. The police are to contain the situation as amicably as possible.

Taking note of the situation in the Valley, Eid meetings have been denied at several places. Lal Chowk, Tahab, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam have been marked as sensitive and permission for Eid meetings have been denied in these areas.